With confused eyes and an empty stomach, I was to tell the lady in the cafeteria that I wanted a taco. It was a challenge for a student who just came to America three days ago, knowing limited English and nothing about American food---including “taco”. I told her I wanted the thing with meat and cheese, and some vegetables on top. She quickly gave me a cheeseburger and was ready to serve the next one. “Sorry...I don’t want this one” I blurted out before she moved her eyes away from me. She put her scoop down and removed the burger. ”What do you want?” My face blushed like a guilty child, a quick glance of the waiting line made me sweat. I wished the school could assign the same food to everyone like schools in China so I would not have to suffer the embarrassment everyday. To try again, I held my hands like a cone, put it next to my mouth and pretended I was chewing on it. An ”ah ha” smile suddenly brightened her face. “I got you!” ---She handed me a burrito.

This was my first lunch at school, with all the frustration and an unwanted burrito. Living in the United States was completely new for me. The first obstacle in front of me was how to catch up with the curriculum. AP Chemistry, for example, made me really frustrated. I was totally lost in the different teaching style and the technical terms. After many tries, I found that an effective way to understand the curriculum was to interact with the class as much as possible. Sometimes I do make mistakes while speaking in front of class, but the key point is not to be afraid to express thoughts. Over time, I not only survived, but excelled. I ended up with all A’s on my grade report.

Besides the curriculum, I also felt lost in the American students’ social life when I first came here. I had a hard time understanding my classmates’ conversations because they use a lot of slang, which I knew nothing about it. It took me a while to figure out what they were saying when I heard people say“Hey wazzup!”to me. So I tried to join as many extra-curricular activities as possible in order to learn how Americans socialize with each other. At the same time, I also shared Chinese culture with them, for example, participating in Girl Scouts and singing Beijing opera at the World Thinking Day in our town. Sharing and making friends brought me great happiness and a sense of self-actualization; I would like to carry on my passion to make my campus more diversified.

Many people asked me why I chose to study in America. I told them because I want my life to be different and I have no fear to challenge. My determination has been developed from childhood when I traveled a lot to many countries in Europe, Southeast Asia with my parents. When most of my peers in China limit themselves to academics and let their parents make most decisions for them, I have already come across the ocean on my own and made great headway towards my future. America gives me greater expectations by showing me what I can really do. Before coming to America, I could never imagine myself writing a 10 page scientific paper in English; I would not believe my art work could be displayed and sold; and I would not even dream of standing on the stage for National Honor Society ceremonies to get the certificates of excellence. America makes these opportunities available to me! I think I have learned something important here about life. It is during the times you are far outside your element that you experience yourself the most.